2026 RISE ABOVE RESEARCH CONFERENCE
The 13th annual RISE Above Research Conference will take place on April 16, 2026, and features scholarly mentored research projects from all undergraduate disciplines and majors, as well as graduate research. This year’s theme is Attention and Distraction and will feature Milligan associate professor of English and humanities, Dr. Michael Blouin, as the keynote speaker.
About the Theme
It seems that everyone wants our attention, from networks breaking important news to social media influencers giving lifestyle advice. Distractibility is not a new problem, and managing distraction often requires increasingly serious effort.
In response to decreased attention skills, instructors have to modify course readings (McMurtrie 2024), ministers are rethinking long sermons (Simon-Peter 2024), movies cut to new scenes an average of 10 seconds faster (Miller 2014), and 68% of parents say they are distracted by their phones when they are with their children (Pew Research 2023). And yet, distraction isn’t all bad—finding ways to cope with pain, anxiety, and loss can often involve healthy distractions. Being aware of where and why we are focusing our attention is healthy and worthwhile, and understanding how our attention (or lack of it) impacts the work we do and the lives we lead can help us engage more purposefully.
All submissions will be considered, but special attention will be given to those that consider and respond to the theme of Attention and Distraction.
All submissions should develop specific and focused arguments based on research and synthesis of that research.
Abstracts are due March 10.
Awards
Research projects that best fit the theme will be awarded at the end of the Blue Ridge Undergraduate Research Conference. Initial judging will be based on the submitted abstract and ties to the theme, but final decisions will be based on the quality of the presentation itself. A panel of at least 2 independent judges from the discipline will rank presentations during the conference and winners will be announced at the end of the day.
Abstracts
This conference is a culminating event for students who have been engaged in mentored research. Presentations will showcase the scholarly and creative research from all disciplines and majors. Both graduate and undergraduates are encouraged to attend and present. Any faculty-sponsored research project, proposal, or demonstration is welcome.
FAQs
What Do Presentations Look like?
There are 3 types of presentations at this year’s conference.
Poster presentations consist of a large format poster (typically 30″ X 40″) set or mounted to an easel. Presenters should expect to stand with their poster for an hour-long session and answer questions of people who stop by. It is helpful to prepare an “elevator speech.” Multiple posters are displayed during each session, which is usually multi-disciplinary in nature.
Oral presentations will be grouped by discipline. Each researcher will present orally with a PowerPoint or other visual aids. Students should be prepared to present for 12 minutes with an additional three minutes for questions.
Technology demonstrations: In this session, presenters can demonstrate a technological device or similar STEM project. Examples could include robotics, drones, engineering projects, computer programming, botany projects, etc. Since demonstrations can take time and may include an interactive element, this session is two hours long. Presenters will be given indoor or outdoor space, a table, and/or access to electricity as requested. Presenters should plan to demonstrate, explain, and interact with attendees during the entire duration. If applicable, team members are welcome to trade off during the session to attend concurrent sessions.
An abstract must be submitted during registration regardless of the presentation type. Presenters should dress in attire suitable for a professional meeting.
Can graduate students or non-Milligan students present?
Yes. Graduate and non-Milligan students are welcome and encouraged to attend and/or present. While the majority of Rise Above presenters will be undergraduates from Milligan, we are welcoming to anyone with research to share. The process of registering is the same.
Graduate projects will be combined into sessions with other graduate students based on topic when possible. If there are no other graduate projects related to your topic, you may be added to a related undergraduate session. A prize for the best graduate project related to our conference theme will be awarded.
How Do I Win a Prize?
Theme Prize: The theme for each year’s conference is announced in the call for papers. This is a general theme by design so many projects and any discipline could be relevant (see Call for Papers), and thus eligible for a prize. You must indicate in your registration whether you want your presentation to be judged or not. A rubric will be used to judge entries. Initial judging will be based on your description of how your project fits the theme and your submitted abstract. Final decisions will be based on the quality of the presentation itself. At least 2 faculty judges will evaluate your presentation. Awards will be announced at the end of the faculty lecture or at the spring Awards Convo.
Registration and Abstract Submission
The deadline for registering as a presenter, faculty moderator or vendor is March 10, 2026.
Note: All presentations will be accepted if a faculty member from an academic institution is listed as the mentor.
General conference attendance registration will be accepted up to and on the day of the conference.
Group projects are welcome but each person in the group must register individually.
Cost: This conference is free.
If for any reason, you need to change or cancel a registration, please contact Shauna Crowe.
Use the registration link below to both submit your abstract and/or register your attendance at the conference.
What is the schedule for the conference?
| 2 – 3:30 p.m. | Poster Sesstion |
| 2 – 4 p.m. | Technical Demonstrations |
| 2:15 – 3:15 p.m. | Oral Presentation Session 1 |
| 3:30 – 4:30 p.m. | Oral Presentation Session 2 |
| 4:30– 5:30 p.m. | Oral Presentation Session 3 |
| 6 – 7 p.m. | Faculty Lecture |
All presentations will take place in Derthick Hall.
